Sometimes I wonder why there's such a thing as burden in human life. Can't life just be smooth and rosy all the time? I'm currently at that stage of life where everything feels burdensome, and my heart is cluttered with so many thoughts. Thinking about them, which is almost inevitable, seems to pin me down—immovable, unable to leave the spot where I find myself. I think everyone passes through this stage in life, except those born with a silver spoon. It's a stage after graduation, when you're trying to kickstart real life, but nothing seems to work. And even at that spot, when things aren’t working, life’s challenges strike back and forth, with no mercy considering the situation you're in at that particular period.
I finished school three years ago, in 2022, and life has not been funny at all. Getting a job, I mean a well-paying job, has been futile, and I’ve been surviving through menial and low-paying jobs. My head is always filled with thoughts about how to break free and excel in life. And mind you, even at this struggling stage, life’s challenges—especially the ones that demand financial solutions—attack mercilessly.
However, I’ve been coping and freeing my head from such thoughts, otherwise, I might have ended up like many people who resort to suicide.
I've been mingling with people, communicating, and there's something good about that. Whether they are people above or below your status, you find reasons not to give up. I have people around me who, when they share the problems they are going through, make me appreciate my own situation. Even though I’m crying and seeking change, there are people far worse off, some without even an idea of the steps I’ve already taken.
Then, there's the other side of mingling with people above my status who have passed through this current stage of mine. Hearing their reassuring words and advice lifts my soul. Their stories, especially about their difficult lives before their breakthroughs, remind me that there’s indeed a light at the end of the tunnel and this gives me freedom within.
This kind of communication doesn’t cost a dime. It’s simply a matter of welcoming people into my life and having them around to talk, share experiences, and share life. I don't know if it’s just me, but I tend to feel this deep sense of warmth whenever I’m with people. It’s far better than talking on the phone. Face-to-face communication works like magic.
I also limit my social media lifestyle.
No doubt, I visit social media to catch up on funny things, but I don’t go there regularly. This helps me avoid seeing things that will get me thinking negatively again, and it has also saved me money because I don’t use as much data as I used to.
You know, there’s this feeling that takes over when you see a post from someone your age doing better than you. To be honest, seeing those things regularly weighs me down, reminding me that I’m not trying hard enough, and it makes life feel heavier. So, I keep my distance. I only visit social media when I need to, and when I do, I go directly to what I want to see, do what I need to do, and log out.
Thank you for reading this piece. It's my entry to the #FreedomFriday.